Photo by Christian Mackie on Unsplash

Fixing up your bathroom can add considerable value to your home, which is important to keep in mind if you plan on selling in the near future. If you would rather avoid having to make major changes to your bathroom, there are several minor remodeling projects to consider instead. The following remodeling projects are simple ones that won’t take up a lot of your time or budget.

Replace Handles & Knobs

It might not seem like much, but replacing bathroom hardware can give this part of your home an updated look. If your cabinets and doors have older handles and doorknobs that are dull or worn, consider putting in new ones. Shiny new hardware in your bathroom, such as brass or chrome, can improve your bathroom’s appearance without requiring a lot of hard work.

Get a New Mirror 

An even simpler remodeling project is getting a brand-new mirror for your bathroom. Replacing your current mirror with one that’s more decorative or has a more modern or contemporary style can spruce up your bathroom. You can also explore the latest trends for mirror styles, such as full-length mirrors, art deco mirrors or upscale mirrors for a touch of elegance.

Install a New Light Fixture

Older light fixtures can give your bathroom a dated appearance. Installing new light fixtures can give your bathroom a stylish look and add more illumination in certain areas. Consider adding under-cabinet lighting, ambient lighting or a back-lit mirror. Other options to look into include a layered lighting setup and elegant, decorative light fixtures. 

Refinish Cabinets

Replacing the cabinets in your bathroom can turn into a costly and time-consuming project. As an alternative, consider giving your current bathroom cabinets a new look by refinishing or painting them. Just make sure that the new finish or tone you choose still goes with your surrounding bathroom counters and other decor.

Add Storage 

Another simple yet practical change to make to your bathroom is adding storage. This might involve building a cabinet below an open sink, or adding open shelves to your bathroom. Having extra storage space comes in handy for keeping towels, washcloths and other bathroom items close by.

Install a New Floor

If your bathroom floor is worn or if it’s an outdated style, consider installing a new one. This might be an easy project depending on how big your bathroom is and the type of material you choose for your new floor, such as laminate or vinyl flooring.

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When you are ready to buy a house, it pays to plan ahead to conduct a successful house search. That way, you can quickly and effortlessly navigate the real estate market and make your homeownership dream come true in no time at all.

Ultimately, you don't need to be a real estate expert to navigate the housing market like a pro. To better understand what it takes to complete a successful house search, let's take a look at three tips to ensure you can seamlessly go from homebuyer to homeowner.

1. Create Homebuying Criteria

If you plan to purchase a house in the foreseeable future, it helps to establish homebuying criteria. By doing so, you can enter the real estate market with a plan.

Think about where you want to reside. For example, if your goal is to live in the same small town as your family members and friends, you may want to hone your house search to properties in this town. Or, if you want to own a house that is close to your office in the city, you may want to pursue residences in or around the city itself.

Consider what differentiates your dream house from an ordinary home too. Thus, if you want to own a home that boasts an in-ground pool, dazzling garden or other distinct features, you should include these criteria in your homebuying strategy.

2. Get Pre-Approved for Home Financing

Lenders can help you get pre-approved for a mortgage prior to launching a home search. Then, you can establish a budget for the homebuying journey.

There is no shortage of mortgage options available, regardless of your credit score, income and outstanding debt. If you meet with banks and credit unions, you can learn about different mortgage options and select a mortgage that is sure to serve you well.

Of course, when you meet with lenders, don't hesitate to ask questions. Lenders employ friendly, knowledgeable mortgage specialists, and these professionals are happy to help you make an informed mortgage selection.

3. Hire a Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent can help you simplify your home search. In fact, with a real estate agent at your side, you can boost the likelihood of finding a terrific house at a budget-friendly price.

Generally, a real estate agent understands what it takes to pursue a home in any city or town, at any time. If you employ a real estate agent, you can get the help you need to accelerate your quest for your dream residence.

A real estate agent usually learns about a homebuyer's goals and maps out a homebuying plan. He or she sets up home showings and keeps a homebuyer up to date about new residences that fit a buyer's criteria. And if a homebuyer wants to submit an offer to purchase a residence, a real estate agent will help this buyer craft a competitive proposal.

Ready to buy a house? Use the aforementioned tips, and you can streamline your search for your ideal residence.

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If your house is on the market or you're preparing to put it up for sale, you probably feel like you have 101 things to do!

Fortunately, the list is much smaller than that and you can enlist the help of a real estate agent to handle many of the details.

To increase your chances for a fast sale, your agent will offer you suggestions on ways to enhance the eye appeal and curb appeal of your home. Although many of the things they point out may seem minor and superficial, the cumulative effect they'll have on the marketability of your home could be significant.

Minor flaws will be noticed by potential buyers and could easily give them the impression that your home hasn't been updated, properly maintained, and well taken care of. While that may not be true, remember that presentation is everything. And, if I may slip in one more old, but true cliché: "You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression!" That is as true in real estate sales as it is in making sure you're breath is fresh!

With that in mind, here's a list of some of the relatively inexpensive improvements you can make that will help you favorably impress prospective home buyers.

• There are a lot of cheap or relatively inexpensive repairs you can make, such as repairing and painting over damaged walls, oiling squeaky hinges, and replacing cracked windows and bathroom tiles. Toilets that run and faucets that leak are other examples of minor problems that can make a bad impression on potential buyers.
• Lighting, both natural and artificial, sets the mood in a room and can have an impact on how people perceive your home. It's usually advisable to let in as much natural light as possible and increase the wattage of lightbulbs in dark rooms and hallways. On the other hand, harsh lightening can also make an unfavorable impression, so it's necessary to find the perfect balance between glaring and dreary lighting. Most real estate agents are attuned to minor (or major) changes that need to be made to elements like lighting, décor, and furniture arrangement.
• Avoid the appearance of clutter, disorganization, and chaos in any part of your home! This would apply to everything from closets and cabinets to counter-tops, desks, and bedroom dressers. If your basement or attic is a "disaster area," that could reflect negatively on you and the attractiveness of your home. A good, general rule-of-thumb for controlling clutter is "less is more."
• Be prepared to do at least a little painting and a lot of cleaning to prepare your house for successful showings. A certain amount of landscaping and lawn care is also necessary, with tasks such as mowing, pruning, and weeding at the top of the list.

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